I was looking for different types of buckets for my loader. I came across forklift tines and attachments. Work Platform (s) from AMH: Wholesale, Guaranteed, Ships Today! .. would it be safe to put forklift attachment on the loader and use one of these platforms?? or would the chance of the tines tipping cause the platform to fall off with people in it? Or what? Anyone thought about this or would it be safe or insane?
forklift platform and FEL??
- Thread starter Charles
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I guess basically what I am asking, Would you trust the hydrolics to run smoothly enough and be stable enough to do what i am asking? If your Fel lifts 10 feet, then you could use a platform to trim branches and so on. I am talking about a decent sized FEL like a backhoe size...
California
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I think you will find a safety sticker on your loader saying don't use it for a manlift.
And personal experience: I worked out of an employer-fabricated manlift cage on the front of a forklift one morning, installing a complex second story window.
Then when I went to move the forklift to the next window, the whole forks carriage, manlift and all, fell down the forklift mast. I found a fresh, broken, slaggy weld where the lift chain met the fork carriage - on top of many prior broken welds. That employer must have injured a few employees before my close call, and never told me anything about the risk. I insisted on scaffolding for the rest of the project. Moral of the story - if it isn't certified for lifting people, I wouldn't use it above maybe three feet off the ground where a tumble, basket and all, wouldn't kill me.
And personal experience: I worked out of an employer-fabricated manlift cage on the front of a forklift one morning, installing a complex second story window.
Then when I went to move the forklift to the next window, the whole forks carriage, manlift and all, fell down the forklift mast. I found a fresh, broken, slaggy weld where the lift chain met the fork carriage - on top of many prior broken welds. That employer must have injured a few employees before my close call, and never told me anything about the risk. I insisted on scaffolding for the rest of the project. Moral of the story - if it isn't certified for lifting people, I wouldn't use it above maybe three feet off the ground where a tumble, basket and all, wouldn't kill me.
Absolutly, I have spent hundreds of hours in a basket like those that I made. I primarily use it on a skidloader but have put it on a FEL also.
J_J
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You probably can, but you must consider the fact, that the loader cylinders might leak down, and slowly tip the basket. You should always chain the man-lift to the fork frame. You could put shut of valves in line to the lift cylinders, to prevent any fluid from leaking out of the cylinders, through the loader valve. That will not prevent some cylinders from bypassing and maybe tilting the man-lift, even with good valves. If your loader valves have zero leak down, it might work OK for you. It is done all the time, whether it is safe or not is debatable.
Egon
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Try using one on a commercial job site! 
The loader valves are not fail safe and can let you come down in a hurry.
Many folks do use their loader but it may not be the best idea!
There have been other threads on the same subject basically deteriorating to "Yes I can"/ " No you shouldn't"
The loader valves are not fail safe and can let you come down in a hurry.
Many folks do use their loader but it may not be the best idea!
There have been other threads on the same subject basically deteriorating to "Yes I can"/ " No you shouldn't"
Try using one on a commercial job site!
They are used on forklift, offroad forklifts and Lulls all the time.
Ok, so its possible but there are dangers associated with it.. I am a FEL noob so I was curious. I guess you make it as safe as you can, with chains, valves, a belt tie off and so on. Everything has risk, so as long as I am aware of the risks associated, I will be better prepaired to deal with them. I wouldnt be using this method that often, but I do see where it would have its uses.
Charlie
Charlie
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I use a platform manlift on my skid steer and FEL. My manlift is 8' tall to the floor of the lift with 3' tall guard rails around the platform. The platform is 4x4'. This translates to a 9' FEL height, 8' raised platform and 6' person is around 23' and can still reach a couple feet higher. Platform is chained to my pallet forks. It can be tricky to keep the platform level when raising because little movements in the curl/dump cylinder moves the top of the platform a fair distance. It works best with self leveling loaders and skid steers. I know it may not be the safest but I honestly feel much safer than trying to work off a ladder at that height.
mjncad
Super Member
Charlie:
Any machinery is dangerous, even used properly; but you answered your own question quite well by knowing that risks are involved and whether you are willing to accept them or not.
As others have said, chain things up to minimize movement. If you are going to be working alone, you will need a ladder to get into your manlift. With that in mind, fabricate an adjustable jackstand to place underneath to keep the manlift from falling if the hydraulics let go.
